Clam-shell-dredger-bucket buffer.



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P. PETERSON.

CLAM SHELL DREDGER BUCKET BUFFER.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 24. 1915.

PatentedSept. 21, 1915.

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PETER PETI 'SON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

CLAM-SHELL-DREDGER-BUCKET BUFFER.

Lisaso.

Specificaton of Letters Patent.

Patent-.ed Sept. 21, 1915,

Application filed March 24, 1915.V Serial No. 16,582.

sorber or bumper therefor to eliminate the jar or concussion when thebucket opens.

The present-invention has for its objects a mong others to provide asimple and cheap, yet durable and eliicient device of this character,readily applicable to clam shell dredgers of known form whereby they maybe equipped with the improvedv bumper or shock absorber now to bedescribed.

lt has for a further object to provide an improved form of bumper orshock absorber ha ving' provision for the ready escape of the sand andwater from the casing of the bumper.

Other objects and advantages of the invention -will hereinafter appearand the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in theappended claim.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying` drawings,which, with the numcrals of reference marked thereon, form a part ofthis specification, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a clamshell dredger bucket provided with my improvements, the'bucket beingshown open. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing` the bucket closed. Fig. 3is an enlarged detail partly in central longitudinal section through thebumper. Fig. 4; is an end view of the bumper. Fig. 5 is a top View ofFig. 3 with a portion of the cover plate removed.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates a clam shell dredgerl bucket ofany wellknown or Vapproved form of construction adapted to beconnected'and operated in the usual way, the present inventionperta-ining in no wise to the construction of the bucket per 88. Adetailed description thereof is not deemed necessary. It is suflicientto state that the halves 2, 2 of thebucket are carried by the usual arms3, 3 crossed, as

shown, and pivoted together, as at 4. As'

is well-known, when the bucket halves are thrown open, they strikeagainst the arms and there is considerable shock or jar. My presentimprovement is aimed at the elimination or taking up of this jar orshock and while the point of application of the bumper is preferablysubstantially that herein shown, it is to be understood that thelocation may be changed as circumstances may require, dependent upon theshaft of the buckct, etc. It'is, to be understood also that while thepreferred form of the invention is that herein illustrated, the same issubject to changes, variations and modifications in detail withoutdeparting` from the spirit of the Jnvention or sacrificinv' any of itsadvantages. 1, therefore, do not intend to restrict myself to suchparticular' form and proportion of parts, but reserve the right to makesuch changes, variations and modifications as come properly within thescope of the protection prayed.

In the form shown 5 is a plate having)` suitable openings G for thereception of bolts, rivets or the like by which the same is designed tobe securely fixed to the outer face of the bucket. As shown, this plateis concave to conform to the curvature of the bucket, and upon thisplate is the casing 7 which preferably is divided into a series ofcompartments by suitable partitions 8 which` also add strength thereto.however, that these partitions may sometimes be omitted. Axially througheach arm there passes a rod 9, one end of which is provided With a nut10 and the other end headed,as at 11, and secured to a cap plate 12.This cap plate may be in one or two pieces, as may be found mosteXpedient, being shown in Fig. 5 as in two parts. Around each rod andbearing,` at one end against the bottom of the compartment and at theother end against the inner face of the cap plate is a spring` litwithin which is another spring` 15, the coils of the two Springs being`oppositely inclined, as seen in Fig. 3. n the present instance I havechosen to show three compartments and three sets of Springs, but it isevident that this number may be varied as circumstances may require. Theeasing is provided, preferably at'the bottom of each compartment, withan opening 1G for the escape of the water, sand, etc., that otherwisewould be collected therein.

On the arms 3, 3 which carry the bucket affix plates 17 in position forcoperation with the cap plates 12 of the bumpers.

It is evident,

' the foregoing description when taken in connection with the annexeddrawings and further detailed description thereof doesv not 1, theplates 17, 'orthe under ifaces of the v arms 3 in case the plates arenot present,

come in contact with the lcap plates 12 of the bmnpers and compress theSprings, the bolts 9 being loosely mounted in the bottom of the` oasingand slidin'g freely therethrough, so that all jar is prevented, and assoon as the pressure is' relieved the springs will force the bolts andthe lcap Vplates into their normal position, that in which they areshown in Fig. 3.V As seen in Fig. 3, the heads 11 of the bolts arecountersunk in the cap plate's for an obvious purpose. i

What is claimed as new szi A dredger bucket, a plate secured theretoCopies of this patentimay be obtained for and having :a portion concavedto"`conforn1 to the curvature of said bucket, said plate having ri'gldtherewith a casing 'divldedlnto 'compa1'tn1ents, a niovably niountedicap comseem necessary. t will be evldent that when the bucket isopened, as shown in Fig.

non to all'ofsaid conipartments, airod for each con'ipartment iooseiy'nnountedin thefH bottom thereof and Springs around' said rods andinterposed between the inner 'face of theV cap plate and the bottoInwallsiof the conipartnients, the Springs around each rod haviing theircoils oppositely inclined', said casing being provided at the bottom ofeach compartrnent with an opening perinitting access to the spring andallowing for theV escape of water, etc.

In testilnony whereof I aflix my signature in presenceof two witnesses.i

` PETER PETERSON. /Vitnesses:

E. P.v THoMPsoN, HENRY VEsTl-Iornn.

five cents each, byadressing the C'ommisioner of I'aten'cs,V

Washington, D. 6. i i

